Sonoelectrochemistry synthesis

Apphcations of ultrasound to electrochemistry have also seen substantial recent progress. Beneficial effects of ultrasound on electroplating and on organic synthetic apphcations of organic electrochemistry (71) have been known for quite some time. More recent studies have focused on the underlying physical theory of enhanced mass transport near electrode surfaces (72,73). Another important appHcation for sonoelectrochemistry has been developed by J. Reisse and co-workers for the electroreductive synthesis of submicrometer powders of transition metals (74). 

Abstract In the last decade, the sonoelectrochemical synthesis of inorganic materials has experienced an important development motivated by the emerging interest in the nanostructures production. However, other traditional sonoelectrochemical synthesis such as gas production, metal deposits and metallic oxide films have also been improved with the simultaneous application of both electric and ultrasound fields. In this chapter, a summary of the fundamental basis, experimental set-up and different applications found in literature are reported, giving the reader a general approach to this branch of Applied Sonoelectrochemistry. 

Saez V, Mason TJ (2009) The synthesis of nanoparticles using Sonoelectrochemistry a review. Molecules 14 4284-4299... 

Mancier V, Daltin A-L, Leckercq D (2008) Synthesis and characterization of copper oxide (I) nanoparticles produced by pulsed sonoelectrochemistry. Ultrason Sonochem 15 157-163... 

Synthesis of metallic magnesium by sonoelectrochemistry Hass I, Gedanken A (2008) Chem Commun 1795-1797... 

Although the topic of sonoelectrochemistry will be treated in the subsequent section, it should also be mentioned that pulsed sonoelectroreduction of metallic salts gives rise to finely divided reactive metals which can be employed in organometallic synthesis see above [85]. The synthesis of nanocompounds of semiconductors such as cadmium and lead selenides can also be achieved using similar methodology [169]. 

Sonoelectrochemistry can be considered as the interaction of sound (hence SONO) with electrochemistry which is itself the interconversion of electrical and chemical energies. Whilst this chapter will concentrate on the application of ultrasound to important industrial processes such electrodeposition (or electroplating) and electo-or-ganic synthesis, it is important to first introduce the concept of electrochemistry, for those who are unfamiliar, so that we will have a better understanding as to what precisely happens in an electrochemical or electroplating process and how the application of ultrasound will be of benefit. 

Those interested in pursuing sonoelectrochemistry should note that ultrasound is sometimes employed in electrochemical systems without this fact being obvious from the title and abstracts of a published paper. Often, in these reports, the purpose for the ultrasound and the significance of its use are not discussed in detail. One such example is, Competitive Electrochemical Synthesis of Polydimethylsilane without Solvent, where sonication was found to increase the yield, although without explanation [254], The reader is advised that there may be more such reports in the literature, and the reviewers apologize for inadvertent omission of work in the field. 

The simultaneous application of ultrasonic irradiation to an electrochemical reaction which has been termed sonoelectrochemistry has been shown to produce a variety of benefits in almost any electrochemical process. These include enhanced chemical yield in electrosynthesis and the control of product distribution improved electrochemical efficiency in terms of power consumption, improved mixing, and diffusion in the cell minimization of electrode fouling accelerated degassing and often a reduction in the amount of process-enhancing additives required. In a major chapter devoted to this topic, Suki Phull and Dave Walton have attempted to cover the majority of applications of ultrasound in electrochemistry including electrochemical synthesis, electroanalytical chemistry, battery technology, electrocrystallization, electroinitiated polymerization, and electroplating. 

The combination of ultrasound with electrochemistry is a rapidly emerging field called sonoelectrochemistry (Compton et al., 1997). Table 26.5 includes illustrative examples of electroorganic synthesis with ultrasound. 

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